Whooping Crane Crus americana, Aviculture Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus anatum, and the California Condor Assisting Conservation Cymnogyps californianus. by Joanne Abramson, A Recent Example ofAviculture Fort Bragg, California Assisting Conservation What is Aviculture? weight gains, feeding of young, wean­ An example of one such opportuni­ he term "aviculturist" has com­ ing age can all be collected in aviary ty for this author to assist in conserva­ monly been applied to people settings. Eventually D A, hormone tion research occurred in 1993. The T in the private sector. In actuali­ and aging studies may be carried out. author became aware of a radio trans­ ty, it applies to anyone that is raising Captive bird photography often reveals mitter that was to be used on Buffon's birds and would include zoological what a researcher suspected, but could Macaws (Ara ambigua) in the wild by bird curators as well as government not observe in the wild. researchers Robin Bjork and George bird breeding facility managers. This Each species' biology is extremely VN. Powell working for RARE Center article takes a brief look at how avicul­ complex. Success of future release for Tropical Conservation. Buffon's ture can fit into the conservation pic­ programs is dependent on many other Macaws are uncommon birds in cap­ ture. species (including man, the greatest tivity and in the wild which are, unfor­ predator of all) which interplay with tunately, frequently misidentified as Who are Aviculturists? the subject species. For many of the the more common Military Macaw Aviculturists are a diverse group of species in the greatest danger of (Ara militaris). RARE was contacted people. Some have a few pairs of birds extinction, little is known of their nat­ and it was determined that wild while others have large collections. ural biology. Tracking tropical forest Buffon's Macaws were to be fitted in Some specialize in one family, genus birds can be especially difficult for the wild and released. A suggestion or species of birds, while others have researchers. was made that the researchers try the mixed collections. In general, avicul­ Ideally, populations of specific bird transmitters out on captive birds first to turists who concentrate their efforts on species should be monitored and their determine if the design was appropri­ one or two species can usually make a habitats preserved when there are ate. Three prototype transmitters were greater contribution to species preser­ hundreds or, better yet, thousands of tried prior to the final design. Details in vation than those who have large individuals left in the wild. More fre­ the researchers own words are as fol­ mixed collections. quently, however, the population dips lows: Specialist aviculturists concentrating precariously close to extinction before Radio Telemetry Methodology" on a particular group of birds can a desperate, last minute avicultural Robin Bjork and accumulate vast amounts of vital infor­ intervention is implemented to save George V.N. Powell mation and frequently network with them. Current examples include the RARE Center for Tropical Conservation c other aviculturists on a world wide o basis. Groups of these specialists often ~ Radio-telemetry is being employed in this study to track habitat use by the form special interest organizations ~ Q) Buffon's Macaw population in Costa Rica such as the Whooping Crane g in order to identify movement patterns Association, the Trumpeter Swan ~ ~ and quantify important Jood. resources Society or the World Parrot Trust. All of ~ throughout the species annual cycle. 1he these groups are useful for dissemina- if plan is to radio-tag adults andJuveniles, tion of information to aid in the prop­ and subsequently, monitor their move­ ments and Jood. selection; to date only agation of birds and education of avi­ Juveniles have been radio-tagged.. culturists and the public. To detennine the saJest, effective Specialist associations can be of radio transmitterJor use on the Buffon's great benefit to ornithologists and field Macaw, three prototype neck collar­ biologists who may spend years track­ mounted transmitters (mnnuJactured by ing down large numbers ofbirds in the Holohil Systems, Ud.., Ontario, Canada) were tested on captive macaws beJore wild to attempt studies which could radio-tagging birds in the wild Each oj easily be carried out in a captive set­ the three transmitters had a brass cylin­ ting. Often, provided that the con­ der (42 mm long X 17 mm in diameter) straints of the breeding season are encasing the transmitter and battery, respected, a large amount of data can which, by virtue oj its weight, rests on be collected in one year's time with the ventral side oj the bird. 1he proto­ several aviculturists' partiCipation. types differed in collar and antenna design. 1hefirst prototype used a collar Information on sexual dimorphism, This BulfonsMacaw is wearing a radio trans­ ojTTU.l1.ti-strand, stainless steel cable with courtship, nesting behavior, nest build­ mitter. It is on a brass collar which provides a trailing cable antenna covered in plas­ ing, clutch size, egg calibrations, neck sUpporlfor the transmilter cylinder. tic "shrink-wrap" materiaL 1he second

CITES 1997 11 prototype used a brass coUar and the ty. One note ojcaution: the.fit oJthe col­ and noted, Individual variations did trailing cable antenna. The cable coUar lar on the bird is critical; researchers occur which required proper siZing by did not provide adequate distribution oj using coUar-style radio transmitters on the transmitter manufacturer of several weight around the neck, and on bothpro­ Yellow-naped Amazon (Amazona neck band sizes, These changes were auropa11iata) experienced occasional totypes, the shrink-wrap on the coUar relatively, easy to correct while the and/or antenna was peeled oJf by the problems with the lower mandible oj a birds exposing the raw steel. bird becoming stuck under the coUar ifit researchers were in the United States, Subsequently, the birds quickly chewed was too loose (A. Brice & K. Joyner pers. but could have delayed field research into the cable, leaving frayed steel ends comm. 1994). in the wild if the transmitters had to be exposed, a nonfunctional antenna with As a pilot study in 1994, threeJuve­ returned to the manufacturer for refit­ potentialJor injury to the bird. niles were radio-tagged with the coUar­ ting, The third radio transmitter prototype, moWlted transmitters. One individual which remained intact throughout the was captured manuaUy in a tree the day captive testing and was consequently after itjl.edged. Two siblingsfrom a sec­ placed on birds in the wild, is composed ond nest were radio-tagged two weeks A suggestion was ojthe brass cylinder Wlit (with a battery beJore they jl.edged; one person climbed made that the researchers junctional Jor 12 months) and a brass the nest tree to the nest cavity using ver­ coUar (1 cm wide) that junctions as an tical rope climbing techniques, then each try the transmitters out on antenna. The coUar is attached to one nestling was manuaUy removedfrom the captive birds first to deter- end oj the cylinder, wraps aroWld the nest, lowered to the ground in a pillow back ojthe neckoja bird andJastens on case on a rope-puUey system where a mine ifthe design was the other end with a locking nut which two-person team attached the transmit­ appropriate. completes the circuit. The Wlit weighs 30 ter in less thanfive minutes and sent the grams or less than 3% average body nestling up the rope where it was placed mass oja captive adult BuJfon's Macaw back in the nest. Observations oj (l2OQ-1500g, J. Abramson WlpubL). To parental preening and Jeeding behavior Cooperation ofthe Avicultural maximize signal range, coUar/ antenna oj the radio-tagged jl.edglings indicated Community with Other Entities length must be preset which makes the apparent acceptance oj the transmitters Why aren't there more cooperative coUar non-acljustable. The coUars were by both adults andjl.edglings. Range oj efforts to study avian species between prepared in two sizes to.fit the size range signal reception has been up to 5 km by wildlife biologiSts, zoologists, ornithol­ oj adults determined from measure­ ground and a minimum oj10 kmfrom an ogists, conservationists and private avi­ ments oj six captive adult male and airplane. culturists? Behavior and Movements Perhaps it is because many field For many ofthe species in During thefield seasons oj 1994, the researchers are unaware of the poten­ movements and Jood selection oj the tial benefit of networking with mem­ the greatest danger of radio- tagged birds were monitored on at bers of the avicultural community. least a weekly basis. For about thefirst Members of the conservation commu­ extinction, little is known of two weeks after jl.edging, the yOWlg their natural biology. birds stayed within a very localized area nity are often comfortable contacting (about 1 krrf) around the nest tree while other conservation researchers or IdeaJJy, populations of the adults left and returned with Jood members of the established zoo com­ specific bird species should throughout the day. By 16 days post­ munity, but may fail to recognize that be monitored and their habi­ .fledging, the yoWlfJ birds began accom­ the avicultural community might also panying their parents on flights. Within be able to assist them in their research. tates preserved when there five weeks after.fledging, these Jamilies were joining other BuJfon's Macaws in The avicultural community has no are hundreds or, better yet, Jeeding trees and at sixweeks the yOWlg directory to alert other specialties to thousands ofindividuals were first observed Joraging. At eight where information can be found to weeks after jl.edging, the Jamilies were assist them. The avicultural community left in the wild. More covering about 14 krrf area per day. is diverse and has yet to create a cohe­ 'Pmm The Large Macaws; Their Cml?, Breeding and frequently, however, the Omselvation byI Abramson, BL Speer andIB. Thomso,." sive network linking the specialty population dips precariously organizations. Specialty bird maga­ close to extinction before Clearly the Buffon's Macaw trans­ zines and journals abound, but with mitters could have been tested on wild no central location of dissemination. intervention is birds. The use ofcaptive bred and cap­ Global research, using the media implemented to save them. tive held wild caught birds, however, and the internet, can incorporate a allowed the researchers the opportuni­ number of diverse disciplines for the ty to design a superior transmitter purpose of solving some of the diffi­ Jemale BuJfon's Macaw. The coUars without endangering any rare wild cult conservation issues. While the were sized to allow the Jore and index fingers to slide snugly between the coUar birds. information gained from captive bird and the bird's neck to insure that the crop The researchers also had the oppor­ populations will not replace research and airways were not restricted. 1nside tunity to visit the captive breeding gained in the wild, it can augment that dimensions ojthe closed coUars are 161 facility and gain hands on experience research and provide comparisons mm and 168 mm; the smallertransmitter captuting and holding large macaws. between captive kept birds and their .fit the rncyority ojbirds tested in captivi- Variations in neck sizes were measured wild counterparts. ~ 12 CITES 1997